Principal Cable System Design Engineer

AECOM; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in Birmingham is seeking a Principal Cable System Design Engineer to drive technical excellence in high-voltage projects. The role involves leading multidisciplinary teams, ensuring compliance with standards, and engaging with clients. Candidates should have extensive experience in cable system design and excellent leadership skills. This position offers a chance to contribute significantly to the energy transition and deliver world-class solutions for crucial infrastructure projects.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Flexible hybrid working model

Volunteering days

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in HV/EHV cable system design as a technical leader.
• Proven track record in design, specification, and installation of complex cable systems.
• In-depth understanding of UK-specific standards like National Grid TPs and IEC guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical delivery of HV/EHV cable system projects from concept to completion.
• Oversee HV cable system designs, ensuring compliance with applicable standards.
• Manage coordination between disciplines for cohesive design solutions.

Skills

Technical leadership

HV/EHV cable system design

Client engagement

Team leadership

Problem-solving

Education

Degree in Electrical Engineering

MSc/MEng advantageous

Tools

CYMCAP

WinCable

Job description

We are seeking a Principal Cable System Design Engineer to join our expanding Transmission & Distribution (T&D) team within AECOM. This is a senior role within the business, with responsibility for driving technical excellence, leading complex projects, and supporting strategic client engagement across a broad portfolio of high-voltage infrastructure schemes. As a Principal Engineer, you will play a critical role in the planning, design, and delivery of cable systems across multiple voltage levels. Our clients include Transmission System Operators, Distribution Network Operators, private developers, and international energy majors across the UK and globally. You will lead multidisciplinary project teams, act as a trusted advisor to clients, and contribute to developing our technical standards, innovation strategy, and digital delivery approach within the cable engineering space. This is a fantastic opportunity to be at the forefront of the energy transition, delivering world-class solutions for projects that are shaping the grid of tomorrow.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical delivery of large-scale HV/EHV cable system projects from concept to completion, ensuring quality, safety, and innovation throughout the lifecycle.
• Develop and oversee HV cable system designs, including routing, burial risk assessments, thermal, electromagnetic, and mechanical performance modelling.
• Provide expert-level input into cable system ratings, installation methodologies, jointing arrangements, cleating design, and system integration in challenging environments.
• Guide and validate complex calculations including ampacity, short-circuit forces, EMC, induced voltages, and thermomechanical forces to meet compliance with National Grid TPs, IEC, and CIGRÉ standards.
• Lead client and stakeholder engagement, providing technical assurance, strategic direction, and value-engineered solutions on high-profile infrastructure programmes.
• Manage coordination between disciplines, including civil, structural, OHL, substation, and marine engineering inputs, to ensure cohesive and integrated design solutions.
• Drive project execution, managing technical risks, interfaces, and quality reviews while supporting procurement, construction, and commissioning phases.
• Conduct 3rd-party inspections, FAT/SAT witnessing and vendor oversight for cable and ancillary equipment.
• Champion mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and technical development within the wider team, supporting capability growth in cable systems engineering.
• Support business development activities, including proposals, bid reviews and client presentations.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience as a technical leader in HV/EHV cable system design.
• Proven track record in design, specification, and installation of complex cable systems including tunnel, urban and constrained environments.
• In-depth understanding of international and UK-specific standards, particularly National Grid TPs, IEC and CIGRÉ guidelines.
• Experience working in regulated, quality-assured environments – preferably with National Grid, SSE, EirGrid or equivalent TSO/DNOs.
• Strong ability to coordinate multidisciplinary engineering teams and engage with senior stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
• Excellent communication, client-facing and team leadership/mentorship skills.
• Commitment to fostering innovation, digital delivery and sustainability in design.

Desirable Certifications & Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in Electrical Engineering or related field; MSc/MEng advantageous.
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or working towards it.
• National Grid CDAE certification or similar.
• Experience with cable system software (e.g., CYMCAP, WinCable) and advanced analysis tools.

Benefits

Enjoy core and personalised benefits designed to support your future and well-being, including career development opportunities, a flexible hybrid working model, technical practice networks, AECOM University, and volunteering days.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we celebrate diversity and inclusion, and are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment.